Stocking protector



Feb, 12, B COOPER STOCKING PROTECTOR Filed Aug. 2, 1945 2 Sheets- 5heet1,

Feb. 12, .1946. B. CQOPER 2,394,844

I STOCKING PROTECTOR v Filed .Aug. 2, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 [ill/enterBmzwrrr (cause Attorney Patented Feb. 12, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE Application August 2, 1943, Serial No. 497,013 In Great BritainAugust 11, 1942 1 Claim.

This invention relates to soft washable protectors of slipper-like formfor the feet of stockings and similar hosiery,

Objects of the invention are to improve and simplify the form andconstruction of such protectors so as to ensure that the same closelyfit and conform with the feet without relative movements during wear andthus efliciently protect the feet of the stockings from wear and alsoafford additional comfort, protection and Warmth to the wearer, whilewhen not in use the protectors are very compact and can be readilystored and. packed for transport.

According to this invention protectors of slipper-like form for the feetof stockings and similar hosiery each comprise separate sole, heel andtoe pieces that are secured together along their adjacent edges so thatthe free or unattached edges of all three portions form the foot openingthereof, which opening is furnished with one or more elastic insertionsthat are secured therein under tension so that the protector can bereadily drawn on the foot and retained in a closely fitting positionthereon during wear, by the tension of the elastic insertions, whileallowing the same to yield and follow the movements of the foot withoutrelative movements or discomfort t the wearer and when not in use thesoft slipper-like protector collapses and the foot opening thereof iscontracted by the tension of the elastic insertions.

The heel piece is formed andassembled to the heel end of the sole pieceso that during wear it fits closely about the back and sides of theheel, while the sole piece is shaped and dimensioned so that it conformsto the shape of the sole of the foot including the foot arch, under thetension of the elastic insertion, and is drawn up over the toes andlateral edges of the foot together with the toe and heel pieces and thusretained in a closely fitting position during wear.

In the accompanying drawings wherein similar references indicate likeparts:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of one construction of soft slipper or protectorformed by stitching together appropriately shaped blanks of chamoisleather or washable textile fabric and Figs. 2 and 3 respectivelyperspective views showing the same in position during wear from oppositesides of the foot. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the blanks comprised in theslipper or protector illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. Fig. 5 is a detailview drawn to a larger scale presently referred to while Fig. 6illustrates a slight modification of the construetion of the softslipper in Fig. 1.' Fig. '7 is a plan indicated in Fig. '7, while thesole piece I is made view showing the manner of assembling the blanksshown in Fig. 4 and a modification in the form of the elastic insertionspresently referred to.

As shown in the drawings the soft slipper or protector comprises anappropriately shaped sole I, a toe piece 2 and heel piece 3 of chamoisleather or other suitable washable material, the toe piece 2 and heelpiece 3 being assembled to the sole in the manner indicated in Fig. '7and secured by stitching their edges 2a and 3a to the correspondingsections 21) and 3b of the edges of the sole piece as indicated in Figs.1, 2, 3 and 7.

The blank from which the heel piece 3 is formed comprises a base edge'Saof slight curvature and an arched edge 30 as shown in Figs. 4 and 7, thebase edge 30. thereof being strained round the adjacent sharply curvedheel section 311 of the sole piece and secured thereto by stitching sothat the heel piece 3 forms a wall that fits closely about the back andsides of the heel during wear.

The toe piece 2 comprises curved front and back edges 2a and 20 as shownin Figs. 4' and 7, the front edge 2a being stitched to the correspondingcurved section 21) of the sole piece as of suflicient dimensions toenable the lateral and front edges la and 2b thereof to be drawn overthe edges of the toes and lateral edges of the foot together with thetoe and heel pieces 2 and 3 as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3 of thedrawmgs.

The foot opening of the protector is formed by the free edges 20 and 3cof the assembled toe and heel pieces 2 and 3, together with the centralsections I a of the lateral edges of the sole pieces I (see Figs. 1, 2and 3) and is furnished with an elastic cord 4 which is secured to suchedges by over-stitching 5 as indicated in Figs. 1 and 5 or in any otherconvenient manner, under sufficient tension to contract and render thefoot opening elastic and draw up the sides of the sole l and of thefront and heel pieces 2 and 3 when the protector is not in use asindicated in Fig. 1 so that the same can be readily drawn and retainedin position on the foot during wear as indic'ated in Figs. 2 and 3 inwhich figures the position of an outer shoe is indicated by the dottedlines A.

In the modified construction illustrated in Fig. 6 the elastic cord 4terminates at the points 6 and lid on the edge 20 of the front 2 insteadof being carried right roundthe latter as in the previously describedconstruction.

In place of, or in addition to, an elastic cord such as 4, the edgesforming the foot opening of the improved protector may be furnished.with gores or insertions of elastic material as indicated at B, Fig. '7,which are stitched or otherwise secured in position under sufficienttension to render the foot opening elastic and enable the protector tobe readily drawn over and retained in position on the foot during wear.

I claim:

As a new article of manufacture, a stocking protector comprising a solepiece of greater width than the area on which th foot rests andextending in length from the heel to a point forwardly of the toes, andhaving curved edges at the heel and toe portion, a toe piece ofsubstantially the same width as the foot and having curved edges forbeing joined to the curved edges at the toe portion of the sole piece,and a heel piece havin curved edges for attachment to the curved edgesat the heel portion of the sole piece and being substantially ofcrescent shape and having the same width as the foot at the heelportion, whereby upon attachment of the toe and heel portion to themarginal edge of the sole piece, the marginal edge of the sides, toeportion and heel portion of the sole piece are curved upwardly, and acontinuous elastic tension element secured to the free marginal edgeportions of the sole piece, toe piece and heel piece to provide anexpansible opening into which the foot may be inserted.

BARNETT COOPER.

